Flexible connecting device for electrical circuits



sept., 9 1924. 1,507,898

` v. SUMMERS FLEXIBLE CONNBCTKING DEVICE" FOR ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS l \Wh Q). l, 6

111ml i Fuga sept'. s. 1921 v Patented Sept. 9. i924.

UNITED STATES PATEN OFI-ic VICTOR E. SUMMERS, F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB TO' HOLMES EIA-E5 TRIC PROTECTIVE COMPANY, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., ACORPORATION 0F NEW'YORK;

FLEXIBLE CONNECTING DEVICE FOR ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS.

Application nled September 3, 1921. Serial No. 498,373.

To all t may concern.'

Be it-known that I, VICTOR E. SUMMERS,

a citizen of the United States, residing atv Pittsburgh, in the 'county of Allegheny, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements `1n Flexible Connecting Devices for Electrical Circuits, of'which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to a flexible device for connecting and preserving the continuity of two sections of an electrical circuit which may be aliixed to two separate,l

The connecting device of this inventionis particularly adapted for use in burglar alarm circuits of the type wherein an alarm circuit may be included in a tinfoil stripping aixed to awindow pane, the circuit being continued from the tinfoil stripping to an exterior alarm circuit, any break in the circuit in the tinfoil caused by tampering with the window pane causing the actuation of alarmi devices in the exterior circuit. It has been the practice in connecting together the tinfoil stripping and 'the exterior alarm circuit, which might be mounted on the window sash, to solder the wire or conductor of the (exterior alarm circuit directly to the tinfoil.` This formed a rigid and fixed connection that might give satisfactory service if the window pane and sash were rmly fastened together. However, if the pane of glass should work slightly loose from the sash, this type of connection might easily become broken. This result might occur from various causes such as the rattling of the pane due to the wind or to pressure exerted on the pane during the process of washing it. Accordingly, it is a feature of the invention to obviate the above described diiculties, and to provide a connecting device which will possess a flexible characteristic so that, in the event that the two objects uponI which the lcircuits, are mounted are not rigidly and firmly xed together, the continuity of from external mechanical t the circuit will be protected and preserved.,A

Another feature of the invention resides in a cup-shaped container which encloses the flexible conductor and which protects it interferences which might tend to break the connection.

While the connecting device'of this invention is particularly adaptable for 'alburglar alarm circuitof the type referred to, it is equally well adapted for use in connecting together other types of ycircuits in other situations. Further features and objectsV of the invention will appear more fully from the detailed description thereofv hereinafter given.

The inventlon may be 'more fully understood from the following description, together with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof, and in which,

, 'Fig l shows the device interconnecting portions of an alarm circuit whichA are at- Vtached to the frame orl sash of a window and a tinfoil stripping mounted on the pane. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view o f the connecting device in position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing the rear of the device. A

Similar reference characters', have been utilized to denote like parts in all of the figures. Referring now to the drawmgs 1n detail, a pair of connectingl devices '5 are shown mounted upon a window frame 6, and interconnecting tinfold stripping -7 .attached to a pane of glass 8 and conductors 9, included in an alarm circuit.l i

Each of the connectors comprises a plate portion 10 of rectangular shape constructed of copper or other suitable conducting maistering openings in the insulating sheets 13 and 14, and an opening 16 lformed in the plate portion 10 servin to clamp the insulating sheets and the p ate portlon together, lugs 17 integral with the plate p ortion 10 serving to prevent the insulating sheet 14 from moving. The opening 16 1n the plate portion 10 is of larger diameter than the openings in the insulating sheets 13 and'14 and when the eyelet is clinched in position, one flange 25 thereof is depressed far enough to force the adjacent edges of the insulating sheet 13 through the opening 16 in th.- plate portion 10, which serves both to completel insulate the plate portion 10 from the eye et and at the same time to render the edge ofthe flange 17 iiush with the outer surface of the iinsulat-f in sheet 13, as is shown in Fig. 2.

n applying the connector to a window, the tongue portion 11 is bent to assume the proper angle to allow the sheet 13 of insulating material to lie vflat against the window frame and the edge 18 of the cup-shape member 12 tolie iiat against the window pane. The1 connector is held in place by means of a screw 19t which is inserted through the eyelet 15 and secured in the window frame 6. Since the eyelet 15 is completely insulated ,from the flat portion 10, which is 'of conducting material, the connector may be applied to window frames which are constructed of metal.

he Lupper edge of the plate portion 10 is bent at the point 20, as shown in Fig. 2,

in order yto space it from the sheet 13 aL distance to provide room in which to solder the ends of conductors 9 which, as previously explained, are included in lan alarm circuit. The foil stripping 7 is electrically connected with the connector by means of a wire 2A soldered thereto, which projects through an arcuate slot 21 cut in the lower periphery of the cup-shape portion 12. The wire 24 is looped to form a coil 22 which is lioused withinthe cupshape portion 12, the other end 23 of the wire being soldered in a triangular depression communicating with the. cup-shape portion 12 and formed at a point diametrically opposite the arcuate slot 21. s By referrin to Figs. 1 and 2,'it will be seen that the e ectrical circuit may be traced from one conductor 9, plate portion 10, ton e 11, cup-shape portion -12, Wire 24 to e foil stripping 7, thence through the stripping to another connector which is connected both to the stripping and to another conductor 9 of the alarm circuit.

Due'to the presence of the slot 21, clearance is afforded the wire 24 to permit it to be moved vfrom side to side in the event that the window pane should be moved'in a substantially horizontal direction relative to the window frame, and due to the coil 22 the Window ane may inove in a substantially vertical rection relative to the frame or .away from the frame, causing an elongation of the wire 24. Due to the manner in which wire 24 is molinte the pane 8 may move in any direction relative to the framewithout causing any breaking of the connecbody member being ti'on between the stripp g and the cupshape portion of the connector.

The coil 22 is housed within the cup# shape portion 12 in order to shield it from outside mechanical interferences such as might occur for instance when the pane of glass is washed.

With a device of this character the continuityof the electrical circuit is less apt to be disturbed unnecessarily than in former arrangements. While the device is particularly useful in its application as herein specically pointed out, it is understood that it may be used for connecting together por.

tions of other types of electrical circuits, and while it has been disclosed iii certain arrangements which are deemed desirable, it

isv understood that it is capable of embodiment in many and widely varied forms other than those disclosed. l

What is claimed is: v

1. A device for interconnecting two electrical circuits, said device comprising a body member, the upper portion thereof being adapted for coiunecti iiA with one electrical circuit, the lower por ion thereof being of concave shape, and a conductor attached to said lower portion and being coiled within said concave portion, said conductor being adapted to be connected to the other electrical circuit.

2. A device 'for interconnecting two elec-v trical circuits, said device comprising a body member, the upper portion thereof being adapted for connection with one electrical circuit, the lower portion thereof being of concave shape, and a conductor flexibly mounted on said body member within said concave portion, and adapted to be connected to the other electrical circuit.

3. A device for interconnecting two elec; trical circuits, said device comprising a body member, the upper portion thereof bein '4. A device for interconnectin two electrical circuits, said device comprising a body member, the upper portion thereof bein adapted for connection with one electric circuit, the lower portion thereof being of concave shape, a conductor iiexibly mounted on s aid body member within said concave portion and adapted to be connected to the other electrical circuit, insulating strips covering the upper portion of said bod member, said insulating strips and Saidy upper portion of saidv body member having an opening therethrough, the opening in said arger than the opening in said insulatin strips, and an eyelet aifixed to said msulating strips in." said opening.

5. A device for interconnecting two electrical circuits, said device com rising a body member, said body member re uced to form a; tongue having the lower portion of said tongue of concave shape, the body portion ,bein adapted forconnectin with one electric circuit, and a conductor flexibly mounted on said tongue and within said concave portion, and adapted to be con- 1921.

nectedy to the other electrical circuit.

6. device forconnecting toelectricai circuits, said device comprising a. body por- 15 tion, insulating strips cover' said body portion, ItA tongue inte 1 wit said body portion and projecting yond said insulated strips, the lower portion of said tongue belngl of concave shape, and a conductor 20 iexibly mounted on said tongue and within said concave portion.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 29th day of August, A. D.

vlc'ron summits. 

